Human Rights Watch condemns Meta for ‘silencing’ Pro-Palestinian voices

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GAZA, Dec 21: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Meta of engaging in systematic online censorship, particularly in restricting pro-Palestinian content on Facebook and Instagram. In a report released on Thursday, HRW emphasized that Meta’s policies and practices have silenced voices supporting Palestine and Palestinian human rights during the Israel-Hamas war. Deborah Brown, the acting associate director of HRW’s technology and human rights division, condemned Meta’s censorship, stating that it exacerbates the challenges faced by Palestinians in expressing themselves amid ongoing atrocities.

Meta’s independent oversight board had previously criticized the social media giant on Tuesday for removing posts depicting human suffering in the conflict. The war, initiated by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, resulted in around 1,140 casualties, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza reportedly claimed the lives of at least 20,000 people, predominantly children and women, according to the Hamas government.

HRW’s report highlighted instances of “systemic online censorship,” documenting over 1,050 cases of content takedowns and suppression on Instagram and Facebook across more than 60 countries in October and November. The censored content, primarily shared by Palestinians and their supporters, addressed human rights abuses. The report acknowledged that while this wave of suppression appears significant, Meta has a documented history of broad crackdowns on Palestine-related content.

Even after the analysis, hundreds of people continued to report censorship, indicating that the total number of cases exceeded 1,050, HRW added. Of the cases reviewed, 1,049 involved the unjustified censorship or suppression of peaceful content supporting Palestine, while one case involved the removal of content supporting Israel.

HRW outlined various forms of censorship on Instagram and Facebook, including the removal of posts, stories, and comments, suspension or disabling of accounts, and restrictions on features, affecting users’ engagement and visibility. The group also noted restrictions on its posts, with users unable to repost, like, or comment on an HRW post calling for evidence of online censorship.

In response, HRW urged Meta to permit protected expression on its platforms, emphasizing the importance of allowing discussions about human rights abuses and political movements.

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